WSJ Online is reporting that Sony, Samsung, Philips, Matsushita and Intertrust have joined the Marlin Joint Development Association, aiming to develop standard specifications for software that can prevent digital movies and music from being improperly copied. The Association also intends to enforce rules about how such content can be played and shared.

What makes Marlin different, the article cites supporters, is mainly that it is emanating from some of the biggest brands in consumer electronics. "The CE industry has been pretty quiet," said Talal Shamoon, Intertrust's chief executive. Now, they are "detonating their DRM," he said.

Our question of the day: Can hackers be impressed by such a joint effort and can piracy really be discouraged by adopting increasingly more restrictive anti-piracy technologies?